STARS ASSEMBLE FOR WARD BENEFIT

Speedway racing returns to Wimborne Road from its winter hibernation on Friday with a star-studded line-up assembled for the Darcy Ward Invitational Meeting (7.30pm)

With a rare UK appearance of Russian high-flier Emil Sajfutdinov headlining the cast, the aim of the meeting is as much to raise funds for Darcy who suffered life-changing injuries in a crash in Poland in 2015, as it is to provide a true class field.

Ward had initially hoped to have made a visit to Poole to see the show unfold first hand but as his UK landlord Neil Middleditch explains "as well as Darcy's susceptibility to the colder weather, his girlfriend Lizze, who undertakes the massive role as his carer is currently unable to leave Australia as she is qualifying for residency over there. That means she has to be in Australia for 18 months but we know that the thoughts of both of them will be here in Poole and of course all our thoughts will be with them."

Battling against Sajftudinov, who was one of the first riders to pledge his support for this event, is world number 5 Jason Doyle who was only denied the world crown through injury in 2016 after winning four rounds of last season's GP series. He held a 5 point championship lead when he crashed in the penultimate round which ended his campaign.

Along with Chris Holder, Dave Watt, Josh Grajczonek, Troy Batchelor, Todd Kurtz and the Pawlicki brothers Przemyslaw and Piotr, Doyle is one of eight former Pirates who join five of the Volvo Cars Poole Pirates - Hans Andersen, Krzysztof Kasprzak, Brady Kurtz, Kyle Newman and Nicolai Klindt in the contest which will be completed by Australians Nick Morris and Rory Schlein.

The gates will open at 6pm for this event with admission prices Adults £20, Child (5-16) £10 Under 5's Free

Line up: H.Andersen, D.Watt, T.Kurtz, J.Grajczonek, K.Newman, E.Sajfutdinov, T.Batchelor, Pr.Pawlicki, N.Klindt, Pi.Pawlicki, J.Doyle, R.Schlein, K.Kasprzak, N.Morris, C.Holder, B.Kurtz.